SJC: Photo Album - Fun Pictures: Father Mike in Rome, Feb. to May 2003

Dear Parishioners,
It is hard to believe that I am in my third week here in Rome. Last Sunday, I concelebrated Mass at St. Peter's Basilica. The intention was for all of you. I have visited the Basilica of St. Lawrence and said Mass; there it was for the intention of our two deacons. Finally, I said a Mass at the prison of Saints Peter and Paul and I prayed for all who are on death row in the state of Ohio.
This is a wonderful experience; I have been able to see much of the roots of our wonderful Catholic Church and Faith. I will be sending pictures back of my trip from time to time and you can check them out on our website. Know that you continue to be in my thoughts and prayers as I continue on this sabbatical. Sorry about all the snow there, I am in a tropical climate! Sorry for you, happy for me!
Love, Fr. Mike

Dear Parishioners,
It is hard to believe that I am in my fourth week of studies here in Rome. I continue to be amazed at all there is to see and experience. This past week I had the opportunity to have lunch with a count. He took me to the Borghese Palace for lunch. God treats me so well, giving me all these experiences. While the rest of my class was at the Borghese Museum looking at their art work, I was in the Palace seeing where much of it actually was. This past week we visited San Giovanni in Laterano, it is the Cathedral for the Bishop of Rome. You see, the Pope is also the Bishop of Rome. We said Mass in the actual Baptistry, where many have been brought into the Church. There my intention for the Mass was all who are involved with the RCIA, those of you preparing to come into the Church and those of you who are helping to prepare them to come into the Church at Easter. This week begins the most sacred time in our Church year. Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent, may this be a time of genuine preparation to become a more holy people! Know of my continued thoughts and prayers for you. Please keep me in your prayers.
Love, Fr. Mike

Dear Parishioners,
I continue to enjoy all the wonderful experiences of Italy. This week end several of us visited the city of Orvieto. It is said that this is where the feast of Corpus Christi, with great processions, first was celebrated. I attended Mass this past Sunday in an earlier Cathedral of Orvieto. We were talking with the priest, who told us that next year in 2004 his church will celebrate the 1000 anniversary if its dedication. I was reminded that this year in 2003, we will celebrate the 125 anniversary of the dedication of St. Joseph Cathedral. As usual, I remembered all of you at Mass. However I also included in my intentions all of our other parishioners who are not registered at the Cathedral; those who live at Faith Mission, the Open Shelter, those who rely upon the sandwiches that are passed out at the Cathedral, etc. Let us continue to pray for one another and for peace.
Love, Fr. Mike

Dear Parishioners,
I have just returned from our semester break. God continues to bless me with so much! We began our journey in Venice. One of our first stops was Piazza San Marco and St. Mark’s Basilica. The Basilica has 43,000 square feet of Byzantine mosaics. It is awesome to see how God has been understood and worshiped throughout Christianity. I was traveling with several priests that are in the program with me. We visited some of the surrounding islands including Murano and Lido and I was able to walk on the beaches of the Adriatic Sea. Having been an English teacher for so many years, I could not resist a day trip to Verona. After four days we took the train to Florence. One of our first stops was the Duomo. Florence’s Gothic Santa Maria del Fiori cathedral has the third-longest nave in Christendom. I climbed neither the dome nor the tower; I am too old and afraid of heights! However, I did visit the baptistery. Michelangelo said its bronze doors were fit to be the gates of Paradise. We spent a half-day in the Uffizi Gallery, which has such a splendid collection of the masters. I saw the original of almost every Christmas card I ever received or sent!!! We did one side trip to Pisa. Again the Cathedral and baptistery were awesome. Look out Bishop Griffin; I have some great ideas of what we can do with our Cathedral!! Just kidding. While in Florence, on March 19th, the feast of our patron St. Joseph, I received a telephone call from Rome. I had been invited to celebrate Mass with our Holy Father at his residence in his private chapel. I took the next train out of Florence and went to Rome. At 7:00am Thursday morning I was at the doors to the Pope’s residence with a note to present to the Swiss guard, letting them know that I was to attend Mass with the Pope! Since I received the invitation on our feast day, I remembered all parishioners of St. Joseph both living and dead at Mass. What an honor, I will have memories that will last a lifetime. Today, Sunday 23rd of March, I attended Mass in Piazza San Pietro. It was a Mass celebrated by the Pope for the Beatification of five saints. It was an impressive ceremony but I was one of thousands in attendance. As we celebrated Mass for those to be Beatified, I prayed for all those in my life and your lives who have challenged us to be holier! I prayed for the unnamed saints that we have encountered who have been examples of holiness. I continue to hold all of you in my prayers and trust that you are keeping me in your prayers.
Love, Fr. Mike

I was at Montecassino today. This is where St. Benedict founded the Benedictines. We said solomn vespers for Palm Sunday there. What a powerful way to begin Holy Week! Know of my thoughts and prayers for all of you as we begin this Sacred Week!

Photo Album: Fun Pictures: Father Mike in Rome, Feb. to May 2003